ABSTRACT
The dysfunctional roles of mind-wandering have been noted widely both in contemplative traditions and in Western science. This chapter attempts to apply dual-process theories to contemplative practices that have existed for thousands of years in Buddhism. According to Buddhism, several important types of Involuntary Initial Response (IR) underlie dissatisfaction and unhappiness: grasping and aversion, the illusion of self, negative emotions, and mind-wandering. The construct of destructive emotion plays a central role in Buddhism, being contrasted with constructive emotion. Destructive emotion is the natural consequence of self-interest, grasping, and aversion; it plays salient and central roles in the dissatisfaction and unhappiness that constitutes samsara; and it can lead to destructive intentions and actions. Consistent with dual-process theories, Buddhism implements short-term Optional Regulatory Responses (RRs) that manage problematic IRs in the moment, together with long-term RRs that produce significant long-term change in behaviour, emotion, and thought.
